Gulf South Pipeline Wants Cat-Powered Compression

Gulf South Pipeline Company (Gulf South) has applied to the US Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to construct, operate, and maintain a new 10,000-hp (7460-kW) compressor station, 0.3 miles (0.48 km) of 16-in. (406-mm) diameter natural gas pipeline, a new delivery meter station, and a new receipt meter station on an existing Gulf South facility site, all located in Calcasieu Parish, Louisiana, USA.

The proposed Westlake Expansion Project will allow Gulf South to provide up to 200,000 dekatherms per day of firm transportation service to Entergy Louisiana LLC’s proposed 980-MW natural gas-fired combined cycle power plant to be located near Westlake, Louisiana.

If approved, the new Westlake Compressor Station will include two 5000 hp (3730 kW) Caterpillar 3616 A4 engines and compressor units capable of providing a total of 10,000 hp. The Westlake Compressor Station is designed with two identical reciprocating compressor engines to ensure reliable delivery to the new Lake Charles Power Plant. During normal operations, the Westlake Compressor Station will operate with both compressor engines running at a reduced load. Should one of the compressor engines be unavailable for service due to maintenance, the second compressor engine has the capability to deliver the full contracted quantities to the Lake Charles Power Plant at the desired delivery pressure.

In addition to the gas-fired engines and compressor units, Gulf South proposes to install yard and station piping, and auxiliary appurtenant facilities and buildings. The new compressor units will be housed in a permanent building to reduce noise and protect equipment. A gas aftercooler will be installed on the discharge side of the compressor units to allow for gas cooling and operational flexibility. In addition to the compressor unit equipment and station piping, ancillary equipment will be installed at the Westlake Compressor Station, including an emergency generator, fuel gas heaters, gas filtration equipment, condensate and wastewater tanks, engine lube oil storage tank, and coolant storage tanks, fuel gas metering, regulation, and jacket water coolers, and communications tower. Gulf South will also install natural gas venting for use in maintenance blowdowns; control to allow for remote start/stop/by-pass of the compressor unit; and air compressors.

Gulf South proposes to begin construction of the project in the fall of 2018 and place the project in-service by August 1, 2019.